You know, a couple of years ago if I’d have found myself writing a ‘happy new year’ post on 24 January, I would have felt oddly anxious. That’s what happens when you allow conscientiousness to run rampant. I can see the documentary now: When Good Traits Go Bad. These days, it doesn’t bother me…

Happy new year! I know, I’m late. But surely we can start a new year any time we like? I actually think that each ‘new year’ really starts on 1 Feb, because January is just a month of pause for me. Do you find yourself in a lovely limbo in January too? Before I reveal…

There’s nothing quite like having a family calendar with all of the school holidays highlighted. Not to mention a clear indication of which school ‘week’ it is. Is it only me or does it seem completely ridiculous to others that schools talk about “Thursday in Week 5” rather than a date? Ugh, it drives me…

One of our goals for our kids’ education is to raise each to be a ‘lifelong learner’. Little people who love learning who grow into big people who love learning. When you’re a lifelong learner, you are striving, seeking and refining yourself your whole life. It’s what makes life interesting and satisfying. There’s a…

There are a lot of laughs to be had with the #badmum / #badmom hashtag. Being a ‘bad mum’ is a release of sorts. Here are the first four #badmum tweets that pop up when I did a search in Twitter: when you try and file the babies nails but end up making them worse…

We all know what a cesspool for the outraged social media can be. It’s rife with people who take offense at every little thing. There are lots of theories about why, the anonymity of a screen being number one (although, hello, I just clicked through on your profile – how was dinner at the RSL…

Last week we went camping for the whole week. It was me and the kids, only it turned out for most of the week it was just me and two kids: the girls. Max was sent home with his father on Sunday, returning on Thursday. He didn’t want to go and pulling a kid from…

Have you noticed that once a kid turns 13, the school holiday entertainment tap switches abruptly off? Vacation care, day camps, even activity workshops seem to only cater for kids aged 5-12. After 12, presumably kids are free to roam the neighbourhood while their parents are at work. But your kid is barely 13. I…

I don’t do well when I’m untethered. Not for me the glorious freedom of no constraints or obligations; I operate best within boundaries. I think I might fly away without them. The past couple of weeks have been all about getting to know my ‘new normal’. I have alternated between restless boredom and brimming with…

At this point in my life, I loathe socks more than I ever thought humanly possible. They bring an extra little bit of misery to daily life. Here are all the ways that socks are plotting to bring mothers around the world down: 1. They are never happy Socks are supposed to mate in pairs…